Squid Game will unfold its final arc with season 3, but Netflix seems to have an even better battle royale show that is scheduled to return soon. The battle royale subgenre has been around for a long time, but only a few shows and movies falling under its umbrella have come even close to matching Squid Game‘s popularity and critical acclaim. By combining survival games with themes surrounding class divides and social inequality, Squid Game became a global phenomenon, and its success will likely leave an indelible mark in the streaming space.
Unfortunately, for now, it seems like Squid Game is finally going to end its run. There is always room for the franchise to grow with potential spin-offs and follow-ups, but the main series is about to conclude with one final installment scheduled to land on Netflix on June 27, 2025. Thankfully, after Squid Game ends, viewers can find its perfect replacement in another similar battle royale show that is considered even better by many.
Netflix’s Alice In Borderland Is An Action-Packed Battle Royale Show Based On A Manga
The Show Combines Fantasy With Survival Games
Similar to Squid Game, Netflix’s Alice in Borderland uses immersive survival games as narrative devices to drive its drama. Unlike Squid Game, however, it does not follow an original storyline. Instead, it adapts story beats from a manga of the same name written by Haro Aso. Alice in Borderland‘s character beats and cast performances are arguably as compelling as Squid Game‘s. However, what makes the Japanese Netflix series significantly different from the Netflix Korean show is that it has elements of fantasy.
Related
Why Alice In Borderland Season 3 Is Happening (Despite Season 2’s Ending)
Alice in Borderland season 3 is happening, which can be surprising given how season 2 ended and how there is no source material left to be covered.
While Squid Game unfolds on an isolated island where its titular games are funded by a group of affluent men, Alice in Borderland takes place in an alternate version of Tokyo. The games in Alice in Borderland progressively get harder, like the ones in Squid Game. But instead of having relatively simpler playground games like the ones featured in Squid Game, Alice in Borderland does not shy away from introducing complex and intellectually demanding challenges that test everything from a player’s physical capabilities to psychological resilience.
If You’re Looking For Action And Set Pieces, Alice In Borderland Is Even Better Than Squid Game
Its Games Are Far Bigger In Scale
When it comes to relatability and thematic depth, Squid Game seems better than Alice in Borderland. The Korean show’s ability to tap into real-world issues like debt and the dehumanizing effect of capitalism on the poor hits home for most viewers. Alice in Borderland, too, attempts to be relatable by using its games as a narrative device to highlight the main character’s search for meaning and purpose, but its thematic elements seemingly lack the universal appeal that comes with the ones from Squid Game.
…Audiences who have been watching Squid Game purely for survival games and the violence that entails them will have a great time watching Alice in Borderland.
However, if the sheer scale of the action and set pieces in both shows are considered, Alice in Borderland seems far superior. The Japanese manga adaptation significantly ups the ante with each new game and even infuses highly imaginative fantastical elements into its central survival story beats. Owing to this, audiences who have been watching Squid Game purely for survival games and the violence that entails them will have a great time watching Alice in Borderland.
Alice In Borderland Season 3 Will Be The Perfect Show To Watch After Squid Game Ends
Its Final Season Will Follow An Original Story
Squid Game‘s final installment will land on Netflix in the last week of June. If viewers start missing the show after it ends its run, they can fill the void by checking out Alice in Borderland‘s seasons 1 and 2 while waiting for its third installment, which is scheduled to be released on Netflix on September 25, 2025. The Netflix Japanese series was slightly predictable in seasons 1 and 2 because it loosely adapted many story beats from the original manga.
What makes Alice in Borderland season 3 even more exciting than its predecessors, however, is that it will follow an original storyline. With a lot of ambiguity surrounding how the Japanese show will unfold in its next installment, it is hard not to anticipate what kind of games and story beats it has in store for viewers. Although some aspects of Alice in Borderland’s narrative may be significantly different from Squid Game’s, it will undoubtedly scratch the itch that Squid Game‘s end will leave behind.
